Wetini Mitai-Ngatai wins award at Te Matatini

Rotorua’s Wetini Mitai-Ngatai won the 2011 Male Leader of the Year award at the recent Te Matatini festival.

The national kapa haka competition mixes traditional with contemporary over three days and culminates in a prizegiving acknowledging individual categories and a supreme winner.

Male leaders are judged on their performance on and off stage, their presentation, speech and oratory skills and the way they carry themselves and their group.

His group, Te Matarae I O Rehu, which was co-led by Miriama Hare, won the 2011 Supreme Award in the traditional Maori weaponry master and kapa haka (performing arts) sections.

Wetini is esteemed in Maori oral tradition after spending most of his life being taught by his elders. He has travelled the world sharing his knowledge and was co-producer of Ihi Frenzy (a nationwide tour of ballet combined with maori culture).

Wetini founded Rotorua’s Mitai Maori Village and is passionate about delivering a genuine, quality cultural experience to visitors from around the globe.

For more information contact:

Wetini Mitai Ngatai
Tel: +64 27 271 1079

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